Ardrey Kell鈥檚 Jack Ludwick: A star on and off the football field
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Q&A with Jack Ludwick who is a football player and senior at Ardrey Kell High School.
Years in current sport: 10 Years
Team: Ardrey Kell High School Varsity Football Team
What are your personal goals within your sport?
Jack Ludwick: To play football at college!
What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
Ludwick: My biggest challenge is how physically strenuous practice/games are. It鈥檚 difficult to recover but I鈥檝e learned different workouts, stretches, meditations, and regiments that help. My coaches and our Athletic Trainer, Cristian, are great supporters!
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Ludwick: My Youth Minister, Lauren, told us 鈥淧articipate, Don鈥檛 Anticipate!鈥� It was meant to keep us from anticipating the schedule but I鈥檝e applied it to everything in life. Choose to participate every day and the world around you will be much more enjoyable!
What do you love about your sport?
Ludwick: I love being with my teammates and coaches to focus on our goals and to have a mental release. I love looking up into the stands on a Friday night and seeing so many supporters cheering for our team!
Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?
Ludwick: The night before a game, I have a Wendy鈥檚 Apple Pecan salad. I wear the same lucky shirt/shoes for school on Friday. I listen to the same album while getting ready and recite the same prayers before each game. When the captains walk out, we all must keep our arms interlocked and start walking with our left foot or else we lose the coin toss!
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Ludwick: You have to be there for your teammates and know how to help. If I have a bad day, the guys around me always have my back. Having to rely on the 10 other people on the field has taught me to never encounter any obstacles or challenges alone.
Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
Ludwick: One year we played Myers Park and I had a false snap on a crucial fourth down play that solidified our loss. It haunted me for a full year but drove me to improve my playing abilities and perfect mental calamity during high stress moments. The next year, we had an overwhelming victory against Myers Park and I played one of the best games of my career.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Ludwick: I am the Ardrey Kell Student Body President, French Honors Society President, Senior Head Delegate for Model UN, in DECA, and Young Life. I work at Tifa Chocolate and Gelato as a Barista! At St. Matthews, I teach Faith Formation, serve as Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and am part of the Life Teen program.
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